Why Your Teeth Whitening Strips Aren't Working

Teeth whitening strips are among the most convenient ways to whiten teeth. Still, many people complain about the ineffectiveness of these strips. According to the American Dental Association, some factors make these dental whitening options ineffective. If you want to understand why your teeth whitening strips are not working, here are the details you need to know.

Teeth Have Many Restorations

Dental restorations do not respond to teeth whitening products. Teeth whitening strips may improve the coloration of your natural teeth, but they will not whiten your restorations. Using the strips may leave your teeth with uneven shades. If you want to even out the color of your teeth, you may need to ask for new dental restorations.

Teeth Are Not Clean

Teeth whitening strips have carbamide or hydrogen peroxide that whitens teeth. The chemicals break down the stain molecules that cause teeth to darken. Plaque buildup can block these whitening chemicals from reaching the stained teeth. Schedule a dental cleaning appointment first before using teeth whitening strips. This can prepare your teeth well for the whitening process.

The Contact With the Teeth Is Not Good

Your teeth will only whiten if the whitening agent has good contact with your teeth. Teeth whitening strips often loosen. They cannot hold full contact enough to whiten your teeth. This often leaves untreated areas. Teeth whitening strips often take time to work. If you have dental sensitivity, placing the dental strips on your teeth may become too strong for you to take.

Stubborn Stains Prevent Teeth From Whitening

Extrinsic stains stay on or within the surface of your enamel. What you eat or drink leave this type of dental stain. Smoking can also leave this type of discoloration. Teeth whitening strips and other dental whitening products target them.

Intrinsic stains stay in the inner layer of the tooth. They can also come from medications, dental injury, or excessive fluoride. These stains can leave your teeth with a grayish color. These difficult stains do not respond at all to teeth whitening strips, even if you leave them on longer.

The Risks of Applying Teeth Whitening Strips

Using teeth whitening strips can whiten your enamel. But if you have many dental restorations, you may experience uneven whitening. Some of your dental stains may also cause this unevenness. You can go to your dentist to update your restorations while you use your teeth whitening strips. This can correct the unevenness.

You may also experience spots on your teeth. Some areas of your teeth can whiten more quickly than others. This can result in uneven whitening or spots. This can happen on the first try if you have a demineralization problem. In some cases, the spots may go away towards the end of the treatment period.

Tooth sensitivity can also happen since you will need to let the teeth whitening strips stay on your teeth for long periods. Bleached gums can also affect your gum tissues. Letting these strips stay on the gums for long periods can lighten or even burn your gums.

Teeth whitening strips can become more effective with the help of your dentist. At River Valley Dental, we make sure our clients only get professional, high-quality teeth whitening products and services. Please visit our clinic in Tremonton, Utah, for a one-on-one consultation.

Call us at 435-257-7344 if you want to schedule an appointment or inquire about our teeth whitening products and services.